Strange Rules

Trevor Paglen will debut new multimedia work—including Voyager (2026), which incorporates hypnotic audio scripts, biofeedback software, pulse sensors, an isolation booth, and headphones—in Strange Rules at Palazzo Diedo, opening May 4 in conjunction with the 61st International Venice Biennale.

Strange Rules introduces the concept of Protocol Art, a practice that engages with the underlying rules that dictate how culture is produced, distributed, and perceived in a digital age. These rules frequently manifest as algorithms, artificial intelligence models, computer protocols, platforms, and various technological infrastructures.

Strange Rules is curated by Mat Dryhurst, Holly Herndon, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, with Adriana Rispoli.

The launch of Strange Rules inaugurates Palazzo Diedo, Venice, as the first space in Italy to foster a curatorial and theoretical reflection on Protocol Art, positioning itself at the forefront of the debate regarding the relationship between art and technology.

Alongside the exhibition, a major new publication will establish the first comprehensive account of Protocol Art as a field of practice. Research for this landmark volume will unfold throughout the duration of Strange Rules, with Palazzo Diedo serving as both exhibition site and working research environment. The resulting book aims to be a defining reference for Protocol Art, mapping its key works, practitioners, and theoretical foundations across art and technology.

The project will transform the historic architecture of Palazzo Diedo into a dynamic laboratory of ideas:

• The Ground Floor features a major new collaborative commission by Mat Dryhurst and Holly Herndon in partnership with SUB. This level will function as a vibrant hub for time-based interventions, including lectures, performances, and screenings. Visitors can also explore the unique installation that runs for the duration of the exhibition.
• The First Floor presents a series of site-specific installations and selected video works that expand on the themes of Protocol Art, creating a direct dialogue with the activations occurring on the ground floor.
• Second Floor - Palazzo Diedo's Black Box presents a selection of video works that probe the intricate layers of contemporary society, its entaglement with technology, and the invisible protocols quietly underpinning them.

(opens in a new window) Learn more at berggruenarts.org.